Waistband for a garment

ABSTRACT

Examples of a waistband for a garment are disclosed, the waistband having a front portion, a back portion, and a curved top edge at the waist opening that curves gradually downward forming a concave curve at the front portion of the waistband and curves gradually upward forming a convex curve at the back portion of the waistband. Also disclosed is a lower body garment having a waistband, the waistband having one or more storage means (or pockets) formed therein and a curved edge at the waist opening, the storage means being concealed by respective loops formed over the waistband.

This application in a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.17/210,888, filed Mar. 24, 2021, which claims priority from and thebenefit of the filing date of United States Provisional PatentApplication No. 63/001,312, filed Mar. 28, 2020, and the entire contentof such applications is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This application relates to the field of garments, and morespecifically, to a garment for sporting activities, exercise, and thelike that has a waistband with one or more storage means formed thereinand with a curved edge at the waist opening.

BACKGROUND

Athletes and consumers are demanding high performance activewear andsportswear, such as for example, tights, pants, and shorts. Currently,many such garments do not fit well around a wearer's waist and requirefrequent adjustment by the wearer. In addition, such garments should beas snug as possible but must still provide adequate room for holdingpersonal items such as smart phones and keys. Currently, many suchgarments have pockets located in positions that interfere with awearer's movements. In addition, such pockets often do not adequatelysecure valuable personal items, such as smart phones and keys, when thewearer is engaged in stretching, exercising, and athletic performance.

SUMMARY OF THE APPLICATION

In one aspect, a waistband for a garment is provided, the waistbandhaving a front portion, a back portion, and a curved top edge at thewaist opening that curves gradually downward forming a concave curve atthe front portion of the waistband and curves gradually upward forming aconvex curve at the back portion of the waistband.

In another aspect, a lower body garment is provided, the waistbandhaving one or more storage means (or pockets) formed therein and acurved edge at the waist opening, the storage means being concealed byrespective loops formed over the waistband.

In addition to the aspects and embodiments described above, furtheraspects and embodiments will become apparent by reference to thedrawings and study of the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Throughout the drawings, reference numbers may be re-used to indicatecorrespondence between referenced elements. The drawings are provided toillustrate example embodiments described herein and are not intended tolimit the scope of the application. Sizes and relative positions ofelements in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. Forexample, the shapes of various elements and angles may be not drawn toscale, and some of these elements may be arbitrarily enlarged andpositioned to improve drawing legibility.

FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating an example of a garment having awaistband, the waistband having one or more concealed storage meansformed therein and a curved edge at the waist opening.

FIG. 2 is a rear view thereof.

FIG. 3 is a right side view thereof, the left side view being a mirrorimage thereof.

FIG. 4 is a front view thereof showing the concealed storage meansthereof in a contrasting tone.

FIG. 5 is a rear view thereof.

FIG. 6 is a right side view thereof, the left side view being a mirrorimage thereof

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional detail view of the first loop of thewaistband of the garment of

FIG. 1 taken along line A-A in FIG. 3 .

FIG. 8 is a front view illustrating another example of a garment havinga waistband, the waistband having a loop formed on the back portionthereof.

FIG. 9 is a rear view thereof.

FIG. 10 is a right side view thereof, the left side view being a mirrorimage thereof

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional detail view of the back portion of thewaistband of the garment of FIG. 8 taken along line B-B in FIG. 9 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, details are set forth to provide anunderstanding of the application. In some instances, certain structures,techniques, and methods have not been described or shown in detail inorder not to obscure the application.

FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating an example of a garment 100 having awaistband 200, the waistband 200 having one or more storage means (orpockets) 320, 350 formed therein and a curved edge 201 at the waistopening 500. FIG. 2 is a rear view thereof. FIG. 3 is a right side viewthereof, the left side view being a mirror image thereof. FIG. 4 is afront view thereof showing the concealed storage means (or pockets) 320,350 thereof in a contrasting tone. FIG. 5 is a rear view thereof. FIG. 6is a right side view thereof, the left side view being a mirror imagethereof. And, FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional detail view of the first loop175 of the waistband 200 of the garment 100 of FIG. 1 taken along lineA-A in FIG. 3 .

As shown in FIGS. 1-3 , the garment (or lower body garment) 100 has afront side 110, back side 120, right side 130, and left side 140. Awaistband 200 extends around a waist opening 500 and is connected (e.g.,attached, sewn, glued, bonded, coupled, joined, etc.) along a bottomedge 202 of the waistband 200 to a body (or pelvic) portion 190 whichincludes first and second (or right and left) legs (or leg portions)150, 160 having respective leg opening 151, 161. As further describedbelow, a top edge 201 of the waistband 200 at the waist opening 500 iscurved (or inclined, sloped, slanted, tilted, etc.) downwards from eachside 130, 140 of the garment 100 to the front side 110 of the garment100 with respect to a nominal horizontal waistline 600 of a wearer. Asshown in FIGS. 4-7 , the waistband 200 may have one or more storagemeans (or pockets) 320, 350 formed therein which are concealed byrespective loop panels 170, 180 as further described below. The garment100 may be a pair of tights, shorts, pants, or the like.

In one example embodiment, a waistband 200 for a garment 100 isdisclosed as follows. The waistband 200 includes a front portion (orfabric panel) 210 for covering at least a portion of an abdomen area ofa wearer, the front portion 210 having a first (or right) side 213 and asecond (or left) side 214. The waistband 200 also has a back portion (orfabric panel) 220 for covering at least a portion of a lower back areaof the wearer, the back portion having a first (or right) side 223 and asecond (or left) side 224. The first and second (or right and left)sides (or side edges) 213, 214 of the front portion 210 are connected(e.g., attached, sewn, glued, bonded, coupled, joined, etc.) to therespective second and first sides (or side edges) 224, 223 of the backportion 220.

The waistband 200 has a top (or upper) edge 201 formed by respective topedges 211, 221 of the front portion 210 and the back portion 220. Inaddition, the waistband 200 has a bottom (or lower) edge 202 formed byrespective bottom edges 212, 222 of the front portion 210 and the backportion 220. The top edge 201 curves gradually downward from each of thefirst and second sides 213, 214 of the front portion 210 to a centralportion 215 of the top edge 211 of the front portion 210 and curvesgradually upward from each of the first and second sides 223, 224 of theback portion 220 to a central portion 225 of the top edge 221 of theback portion 220.

In one embodiment, the central portion 215 of the top edge 211 of thefront portion 210 is positioned to fit below the waistline 600 of thewearer and the central portion 225 of the top edge 221 of the backportion 220 is positioned to fit at or proximate the waistline 600 ofthe wearer. In another embodiment, the central portion 215 of the topedge 211 of the front portion 210 is positioned to fit below thewaistline 600 of the wearer and the central portion 225 of the top edge221 of the back portion 220 is positioned to fit above the waistline 600of the wearer. In a further embodiment, the central portion 215 of thetop edge 211 of the front portion 210 is positioned to fit at orproximate the waistline 600 of the wearer and the central portion 225 ofthe top edge 221 of the back portion 220 is positioned to fit above thewaistline 600 of the wearer.

The waistband 200 can have an outer panel (or fabric panel or liner) 251and an inner panel (or fabric panel or liner) 261. The outer and innerpanels 251, 261 form respective outer and inner surfaces 250, 260 of thefront and back portions 210, 220 and can be connected together at leastalong a portion of the top edge 201 and the bottom edge 202 of thewaistband 200.

The waistband 200 further includes a first (or right) loop panel 170connected to the outer surface 250 of the waistband 200 and forming afirst loop 175 and a second (or left) loop panel 180 connected to theouter surface 250 of the waistband 200 and forming a second loop 185.The first loop 175 may be positioned at a predetermined distance fromthe second loop 185 along the circumference of the waist opening 500 ofthe garment 100. For example, the first and second loops 175, 185 may bepositioned over the waistband 200 on either side 130, 140 of the garment100. Front 174, 184 and rear edges 173, 183 of the first and secondloops 175, 185 may be left open (i.e., not attached) over the waistband200 to provide access to the storage means (or pockets) 320, 350 locatedthereunder as further described below. In addition, the loops 175, 185can also be used to put a towel, a jacket or a shirt therethrough sothat the wearer can carry such items secured by the loops 175, 185.

In another example embodiment, a lower body garment 100 is disclosed asfollows. The lower body garment 100 includes a pelvic portion (or body)190 having a waist opening 500 and a pair of leg openings 151, 161formed therein and a waistband 200. The waistband 200 has a bottom edge202 connected to the pelvic portion 190 at the waist opening 500 and atop edge 201. The waistband 200 also has a front waistband portion (orfabric panel) 210 having a first (or right) side 213 and a second (orleft) side 214. A top edge 211 of the front waistband portion 210 formsa concave curve between the first and the second sides 213, 214 of thefront waistband portion 210. The waistband 200 also has a back waistbandportion (or fabric panel) 220 having a first (or right) side 223connected to the second side 214 of the front waistband portion 210 anda second (or left) side 224 connected to the first side 213 of the frontwaistband portion 210. A top edge 221 of the back waistband portion 220forms a convex curve between the first and the second sides 223, 224 ofthe back waistband portion 220.

In one embodiment, a lowest (or central) portion 215 of the concavecurve of the top edge 211 of the front waistband portion 210 ispositioned to fit below the waistline 600 of a wearer and a highest (orcentral) portion 225 of the convex curve of the top edge 221 of the backwaistband portion 220 is positioned to fit at or proximate the waistline600 of the wearer. In another embodiment, a lowest (or central) portion215 of the concave curve of the top edge 211 of the front waistbandportion 210 is positioned to fit below the waistline 600 of a wearer anda highest portion 225 of the convex curve of the top edge 221 of theback waistband portion 220 is positioned to fit above the waistline 600of the wearer. In a further embodiment, a lowest portion 215 of theconcave curve of the top edge 211 of the front waistband portion 210 ispositioned to fit at or proximate the waistline 600 of a wearer and ahighest portion 215 of the convex curve of the top edge 221 of the backwaistband portion 220 is positioned to fit above the waistline 600 ofthe wearer.

The lower body garment 100 further includes a first (or right) looppanel 170 having a top (or upper) end 171 connected to an outer surface250 of the waistband 200 and a bottom (or lower) end 172, the first looppanel 170 forming a first loop 175. The lower body garment 200 alsoincludes a second (of left) loop panel 180 having a top (or upper) end181 connected to the outer surface 250 of the waistband 200 and a bottom(or lower) end 182, the second loop panel 180 forming a second loop 185.The first loop 175 may be positioned at a predetermined distance fromthe second loop 185 along a circumference of the waist opening 500. Forexample, the first and second loops 175, 185 may be positioned over thewaistband 200 on either side 130, 140 of the garment 100. The bottom end172 of the first loop panel 170 can be connected to an outer surface 155of a first leg portion (or leg) 150 of the lower body garment 100 andthe bottom end 182 of the second loop panel 180 can be connected to anouter surface 165 of a second leg portion (or leg) 160 of the lower bodygarment 100.

As shown in FIGS. 4-7 , the lower body garment 100 also includes apocket panel 310, 340 connected to the outer surface 155, 165 of atleast one of the first and second leg portions 150, 160 forming astorage means (or pocket or pocket bag) 320, 350 having an entranceopening 330, 360. The entrance opening 330, 360 is concealed by at leasta portion (e.g., the loops 175, 185 extending over the waistband 200) ofat least one of the respective first and second loop panels 170, 180.

In a further example embodiment, a lower body garment 100 is disclosedas follows. The lower body garment 200 includes a pelvic portion 190having a waist opening 500 and a pair of leg openings 151, 161 formedtherein. The waistband 200 has a bottom edge 202 connected to the pelvicportion 190 at the waist opening 500 and a top edge 201. The waistband200 also has an outer panel (or liner) 251 and an inner panel (or liner)261. The outer panel 251 and the inner panel 261 are connected at leastalong a portion of the top edge 201 and the bottom edge 202 of thewaistband 200. The waistband 200 also has a first (or right) loop panel170 having a top (or upper) end 171 connected to the waistband 200 atleast at one connection point 177 (e.g., along the top edge 201) and abottom (or lower) end 172, the first loop panel 170 forming a first loop175. The waistband 200 also has a second (or left) loop panel 180 havinga top (or upper) end 181 connected to the waistband 200 at least atanother connection point 187 (e.g., along the top edge 201) and a bottom(or lower) end 182, the second loop panel 180 forming a second loop 185.The first loop 175 may be positioned at a predetermined distance fromthe second loop 185 along a circumference of the waist opening 500.

In the above lower body garment 100, the bottom end 172 of the firstloop panel 170 is connected to an outer surface 155 of a first legportion (or leg) 150 of the lower body garment 100 and the bottom end182 of the second loop panel 180 is connected to an outer surface 165 ofa second leg portion (or leg) 160 of the lower body garment 100. Thelower body garment 100 also includes a pocket panel 310, 340 connectedto the outer surface 155, 165 of at least one of the first and secondleg portions 150, 160 forming a storage means (or pocket or pocket bag)320, 350 having an entrance opening 330, 360. The entrance opening 330,360 is concealed by at least a portion (e.g., the loops 175, 185extending over the waistband 200) of at least one of the respectivefirst and second loop panels 170, 180.

FIG. 8 is a front view illustrating another example of a garment (orlower body garment) 700 having a waistband 200, the waistband 200 havinga loop 775 formed on the back portion 220 thereof. FIG. 9 is a rear viewthereof. FIG. 10 is a right side view thereof, the left side view beinga mirror image thereof. And, FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional detail view ofthe back portion 220 of the waistband 200 of the garment 700 of FIG. 8taken along line B-B in FIG. 9 .

As shown in FIGS. 8-10 , the waistband 200 of the example garment 700has a front portion 210 for covering at least a portion of an abdomenarea of a wearer, the front portion 210 having a first side 213 and asecond side 214, and a back portion 220 for covering at least a portionof a lower back area of the wearer, the back portion 220 having a firstside 223 and a second side 224. The first side 223 of the back portion220 is connected to the second side 214 of the front portion 210 and thesecond side 224 of the back portion 220 connected to the first side 213of the front portion 210. The waistband 200 has an outer panel (orliner) 251, an inner panel (or liner) 261, a top edge 201, and a bottomedge 202. The outer panel 251 and the inner panel 261 are connected atleast along a portion of the top edge 201 and the bottom edge 202 of thewaistband 200.

The waistband 200 has at least one loop panel 770 having a first end (orright end) 773 connected to the outer surface 250 of the back portion220 and a second end (or left end) 774 spaced apart from the first end773 and also connected to the outer surface 250 of the back portion 220forming a loop 775 extending parallel to at least respective portions ofthe top edge 201 and the bottom edge 202 of the waistband 200.

As shown in FIG. 11 , a pocket space (or storage means or pocket orpocket bag) 720 is formed between the outer panel (or liner) 251 and theinner panel (or liner) 261. The outer panel 251 has an entrance opening730 formed therein to provide access to the pocket space 720, theentrance opening 730 being concealed by at least a portion of the looppanel 770. Top and bottom edges 771, 772 of the loop 775 may be leftopen (i.e., not attached) across at least respective portions of theback portion 220 of the waistband 200 to provide access to the pocketspace 720 located thereunder. In one embodiment, the entrance opening730 may be formed along a portion of the top edge 201 of the backportion 220 of the waistband 200 and may be concealed by an upperportion of the loop panel 770. The pocket space 720 may extendthroughout a whole width of the waistband 200 such that at least aportion of the bottom edge 202 of the waistband 200 also forms a bottomedge of the pocket 720.

In some embodiments, one or more features of the garment 700 of FIGS.8-11 may be incorporated in the garment 100 of FIGS. 1-7 , and viceversa.

According to one embodiment, the outer and inner panels, pocket panels,and lining of the waistband 200 and garment 100, 700 may be made from orinclude a stretchable, elastic fabric such as Nulux™, Lycra™, Luxtreme™,Luon™, spandex, elastane, or the like.

Advantageously, the loops 175, 185, 775 not only conceal the pocketentrance openings 330, 360, 730 but also help to retain items in thestorage means (or pockets) 320, 350, 720 during exercise, sports, yoga,or other activities engaged in by the wearer. The loops 175, 185, 775may also be used to hang the garment 100, 700 for storage. The loops175, 185, 775 may also be used by a wearer to pull the garment 100, 700on and off the wearer's body. Furthermore, the loops 175, 185, 775 maybe used to secure and carry a towel or article of clothing such as ashirt, jacket, or the like. The curved top edge 201 of the waistband 200at the waist opening 500 of the garment 100 provides for improved fitaround the wearer's waist.

While particular elements, embodiments and applications of the presentapplication have been shown and described, it will be understood, thatthe scope of the application is not limited thereto, since modificationscan be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scopeof the present application, particularly in light of the foregoingteachings. Thus, for example, in any method or process disclosed herein,the acts or operations making up the method/process may be performed inany suitable sequence and are not necessarily limited to any particulardisclosed sequence. Elements and components can be configured orarranged differently, combined, and/or eliminated in variousembodiments. The various features and processes described above may beused independently of one another, or may be combined in various ways.All possible combinations and subcombinations are intended to fallwithin the scope of this application. Reference throughout thisdisclosure to “some embodiments,” “an embodiment,” or the like, meansthat a particular feature, structure, step, process, or characteristicdescribed in connection with the embodiment is included in at least oneembodiment. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in some embodiments,” “inan embodiment,” or the like, throughout this application are notnecessarily all referring to the same embodiment and may refer to one ormore of the same or different embodiments. Indeed, the novel methods andsystems described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms;furthermore, various omissions, additions, substitutions, equivalents,rearrangements, and changes in the form of the embodiments describedherein may be made without departing from the spirit of the application.

Various aspects and advantages of the embodiments have been describedwhere appropriate. It is to be understood that not necessarily all suchaspects or advantages may be achieved in accordance with any particularembodiment. Thus, for example, it should be recognized that the variousembodiments may be carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizesone advantage or group of advantages as taught herein withoutnecessarily achieving other aspects or advantages as may be taught orsuggested herein.

Conditional language used herein, such as, among others, “can,” “could,”“might,” “may,” “e.g.,” and the like, unless specifically statedotherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, isgenerally intended to convey that certain embodiments include, whileother embodiments do not include, certain features, elements and/orsteps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended toimply that features, elements and/or steps are in any way required forone or more embodiments or that one or more embodiments necessarilyinclude logic for deciding, with or without operator input or prompting,whether these features, elements and/or steps are included or are to beperformed in any particular embodiment. No single feature or group offeatures is required for or indispensable to any particular embodiment.The terms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” and the like aresynonymous and are used inclusively, in an open-ended fashion, and donot exclude additional elements, features, acts, operations, and soforth. Also, the term “or” is used in its inclusive sense (and not inits exclusive sense) so that when used, for example, to connect a listof elements, the term “or” means one, some, or all of the elements inthe list.

Any example calculations, simulations, results, graphs, values, andparameters of the embodiments described herein are intended toillustrate and not to limit the disclosed embodiments. Other embodimentscan be configured and/or operated differently than the illustrativeexamples described herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A lower body garment, comprising: a pelvic portion having a waist opening, a first leg portion, and a second leg portion; a waistband having a top edge and a bottom edge, the bottom edge attached to the pelvic portion at the waist opening; a first loop panel having a top end attached to an outer surface of the waistband proximate the top edge and a bottom end attached to an outer surface of the first leg portion, the first loop panel extending downwardly from proximate the top edge of the waistband over the waistband to the outer surface of the first leg portion; and, a first pocket formed in the first leg portion and having a first entrance opening, the first entrance opening being concealed by at least a portion of the first pocket panel.
 2. The lower body garment of claim 1, further comprising: a second loop panel having a top end attached to the outer surface of the waistband proximate the top edge and a bottom end attached to an outer surface of the second leg portion, the second loop panel extending downwardly from proximate the top edge of the waistband over the waistband to the outer surface of the second leg portion; and, a second pocket formed in the second leg portion and having a second entrance opening, the second entrance opening being concealed by at least a portion of the second pocket panel.
 3. The lower body garment of claim 2, wherein the first and second entrance openings are first and second horizontal or lateral entrance openings.
 4. The lower body garment of claim 2, wherein the first and second loop panels are positioned between the top edge of the waistband and the respective outer surfaces of the first and second leg portions and not extending over the top edge of the waistband.
 5. The lower body garment of claim 2, wherein the first loop panel is positioned at a predetermined distance from the second loop panel along a circumference of the waist opening.
 6. The lower body garment of claim 2, wherein the first and second loop panels are positioned on respective first and second sides of the lower body garment.
 7. The lower body garment of claim 2, wherein front and rear edges of each of the first and second loop panels are left open, or not attached, over the waistband to provide access to the first and second entrance openings of the first and second pockets, respectively.
 8. The lower body garment of claim 2, wherein the first and second loop panels extend over the first and second entrance openings, respectively.
 9. The lower body garment of claim 2, wherein the first and second pockets are formed by respective first and second pocket panels attached to the outer surfaces of the first and second leg portions, respectively.
 10. The lower body garment of claim 2, wherein the first and second entrance openings are positioned proximate to the bottom edge of the waistband.
 11. The lower body garment of claim 2, wherein the first and second loop panels are sized to receive and secure a towel, an article of apparel, or the like inserted thereunder.
 12. The lower body garment of claim 1, wherein the first and second leg portions have first and second leg openings, respectively.
 13. The lower body garment of claim 1, wherein the lower body garment is a pair of tights.
 14. The lower body garment of claim 1, wherein the lower body garment is a pair of shorts.
 15. The lower body garment of claim 1, wherein the lower body garment is a pair of pants. 